Cessna 172N accident near West Branch, Michigan, July 24, 1986
On July 24, 1986 at about 2:40 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N734XX, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Branch, Michigan (West Branch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 1986 · about 2:40 pm local time
- Place
- West Branch, Michigan · West Branch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N734XX · registry record · serial 17269207
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT'S CFI HAD ADVISED HIM TO REFUEL AT AN EN ROUTE ARPT ON THE X-COUNTY SOLO FLT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO FUEL AVAIL AT DEPARTURE ARPT. THE STUDENT DID NOT DIP THETANKS BUT STATED 'BASED ON MY CALCULATIONS OF FUEL BURN THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH FUEL TO COMPLETE THE TRIP WITHOUT REFUELING AT ANOTHER LOCATION'. FUEL EXHAUSTION WAS EXPERIENCED 44 NM NORTHEAST OF THE DESTINATION ARPT AND THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES DURING THE FORCED LANING.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 30 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,850 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 20, 1986; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APN Alpena MI at 2:00 pm
- Destination: MOP Mt. Pleasant MI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from MBS, 45 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.